Daily Current Affair 25-September-2025

GS Paper 3 (Science & Technology, Economy, Defence, Infrastructure)

1. Artificial Intelligence and India’s Global Race

• Context: India’s growing presence in the global AI landscape; government/industry/societal challenges and ambitions.
• Government Initiatives: India AI Mission (₹10,372 crore), push for research, compute infrastructure.
• Digital Foundations: Over 1 billion smartphone users, booming UPI transactions highlight connectivity.
• Global Positioning: India lags behind China ($30B) and the US ($20B) in investment; strong IT and software workforce, but lack of depth in high-level AI research.
• Opportunities:
  • Healthcare: AI-based diagnostics, telemedicine, epidemic prediction.
  • Education: Multilingual AI translation (e.g., Bhashini), personalised learning via ed-tech in local languages.
  • Agriculture: Precision farming, weather/disaster prediction, farmer advisories.
  • Financial Services: AI-empowered digital finance (Hello UPI), rural credit scoring, fraud detection.
  • Disaster Management and Government: Cyclone and flood prediction, AI-enabled crisis response.
• Challenges and Gaps:
  • Insufficient data centres/GPUs, slow supercomputing development
  • Underrepresentation in global AI research (1.4% of papers), talent gap in researchers and trainers.
  • Outdated regulatory/legal environment (IT Act 2000).
  • Geopolitical lag: India risks remaining a consumer, not a creator, unless ecosystem strengthens.
• Way Forward:
  • Invest in basic research, incentivise private R&D, promote start-ups.
  • Widen and deepen AI education.
  • Enact comprehensive digital and AI-specific regulations.
  • Grow public-private-academic partnerships, participate internationally (e.g., ITER, STEP, G20/BRICS alignment).
  • Emphasise ethical, responsible AI for social good.

2. India’s Fusion Energy Roadmap

• Context: Institute for Plasma Research, Gandhinagar, released a structured plan for India’s next-generation fusion energy efforts.
• Nuclear Fusion Explained: Fusion joins light atoms (e.g., hydrogen isotopes) to form heavier ones, releasing immense energy; clean, safe, with abundant fuel.
• India’s Milestones:
  • SST-1 Tokamak: India’s research reactor.
  • ITER participation (France): Technology sharing and R&D base.
  • Proposed SST-Bharat: Fusion-fission hybrid reactor (target 130 MW, budget: ₹25,000 crore).
  • Goal: 250 MW demonstration reactor with high efficiency (Q=20) by 2060.
• Technological Features:
  • Magnetic confinement (tokamaks), superconducting magnets for stable plasma control
  • Focus on digital twins, AI/machine learning for plasma simulation.
• Global Benchmarks: UK STEP, US and Chinese start-ups, France’s WEST project.
• Challenges:
  • Sustained plasma, material science hurdles, low private sector investment, lack of regulation on fusion tech, high initial cost, global competition.
  • Fusion electricity economic viability is still unproven.
• Way Forward:
  • Boost research and funding, public-private collaboration, draft national policy, capacity and skill enhancement.
  • Deepen international engagement, use spin-offs in space/defence/industrial sectors.

Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025

• What is it?
  
  
  • Largest-ever nationwide innovation movement specifically for school students, launched by the Ministry of Education (Department of School Education & Literacy), in collaboration with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and AICTE
    
  • Aims to mobilise over one crore students from more than 1.5 lakh schools, building on NEP 2020’s focus on creativity, hands-on learning, and problem-solving
    
  • Designed to drive India’s vision for Viksit Bharat @2047 (a developed, self-reliant India by 2047) through early-stage innovation.
    
    
• Objectives:
  
  
  • Inspire creative thinking and innovation for national development and self-reliance (“Atmanirbhar Bharat”).
    
  • Strengthen culture of problem-solving, innovation, and entrepreneurship in schools and among youth.
    
    
  • Bring India global recognition as an innovation capital by involving the largest number of students in a synchronized event.
    
    
  • Spotlight inclusion—special focus on aspirational blocks, tribal, frontier, and remote schools.
    
    

Antifa (GS1/GS2/GS3)

• What is Antifa?
  
  
  • Antifa stands for “anti-fascist”; not a single organisation but a loosely connected network or movement of left-leaning activists.
    
  • Seeks to confront, disrupt, or counter far-right extremist groups, neo-Nazis, and fascist ideologies, often through direct action, protests, or counter-demonstrations.
    
  • The term originated in 1930s Europe (Antifaschistische Aktion, Germany) and has seen resurgences in various global contexts since.
    
• Recent Context:
  
  
  • US President Donald Trump designated Antifa a domestic terrorist organisation after a major incident involving the death of a conservative activist
    
  • Move was controversial as Antifa operates as a decentralised, non-hierarchical movement, lacking formal structure, membership, or clear funding.
    
  • American law enforcement traditionally regards Antifa as an ideology or decentralized activism, complicating legal “terror” labelling
    
  • Debate centers around balancing state power, protest rights, and risks of violence from radical groups.
    
    
• Ideology & Tactics:
  
  
  • Anti-racist, anti-authoritarian, leftist, anti-capitalist and often anarchist leanings
    
  • Activities range from peaceful counter-protests, investigations (doxxing), cyber-activism to occasionally confrontational (sometimes violent) direct action (e.g. disrupting far-right rallies, vandalism)
    
  • Criticised for occasional use of violence and property destruction, raising complex questions about protest legitimacy vs. law and order.
    
    
• Enrichment/UPSC Relevance:
  
  
  • GS1: Connects to interwar Europe, resistance movements, and anti-fascism in world history.
    
    
  • GS2: Opens debate on freedom of speech, right to protest, and challenges of policing decentralised, non-institutional actors in democracies.
    
    
  • GS3: Illustrates issues of internal security, countering radicalisation, cyber activism, and potential misuse of state “terrorist” designations.
    
    
• Examples/Linkages:
  
  
  • Recent US protests, global anti-fascist movements.
    
    
  • India comparative: Contrasted with loosely organised protest groups, debates on “urban naxal” labelling, and state responses to mass mobilisation.
    
    

 

Exercise Cold Start (GS3 – Defence/Security)

• What is it?
  
  
  • India’s largest ever tri-service drone and counter-drone military exercise, scheduled for October 2025 in Madhya Pradesh.
    
    
  • Named “Cold Start,” building on experience from recent Operation Sindoor, where drones played a decisive role against Pakistan.youtube
    
• Participants:
  
  
  • Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force all involved for a unified, integrated approach to air defence.youtube+1
    
  • Also includes participation from key industry partners, start-ups, R&D agencies, and academic collaborators.youtube
    
    
• Objectives:
  
  
  • Test combat readiness, identify operational gaps, and refine strategies for emerging aerial threats including UAVs, loitering munitions, and electronic warfare.
    
    
  • Simulate real-world scenarios: drone swarm attacks, GPS jamming, and integrated responses using the Sudarshan Chakra network concept (anticipated by 2035).youtube
    
    
  • Develop and evaluate indigenous anti-drone, jamming, and electronic warfare technologies.
    
    
• Significance:
  
  
  • Demonstrates jointness among armed forces and strengthens India’s air defence doctrine for future warfare.
    
    
  • Sends a strong deterrence signal to neighbours (notably Pakistan) amid evolving threats
    
  • Prepares for rapid response to electronic and hybrid threats.
    
    
• UPSC Relevance:
  
  
  • Showcases synergy in R&D, military preparedness, self-reliant defence tech development.
    
    
  • Example for answers on emerging security threats and jointness in Indian armed forces.
    
    

World Food India (WFI) 2025 (GS3 – Economy/Agriculture, FFP)

• What is it?
  
  
  • Flagship international event hosted by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) from Sept 25–28, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
    
  • Recognised as the world’s largest food innovation, investment, and sustainability showcase; 4th edition since 2017.
    
• Key Features:
  
  
  • Involves participation from 21+ countries, 21 Indian States/UTs, multiple ministries and allied organisations.
    
  • Focuses on five core pillars: Sustainability & Net Zero Processing, Processed Food for Health & Nutrition, Technology Frontiers, Farm-to-Fork linkages, Livestock/Marine sector growth.
    
  • Parallel events: Global Food Regulators Summit (FSSAI), India International Seafood Show, APEDA Buyer-Seller Meet
    
  • Special publications released to address food processing myths and highlight innovations.
    
    
• Objectives:
  
  
  • Attract global and domestic investments to food processing & allied sectors.
    
    
  • Strengthen global partnerships and India’s “Food Basket of the World” positioning.
    
    
  • Showcase India’s diverse food culture and value chain integration.
    
    
• Significance:
  
  
  • Supports SDGs (nutrition, sustainability, rural economy), promotes export opportunities, innovation, and technology adoption.
    
    
  • Drives job creation, farmer income growth, linkages with startups, cold chains, and R&D.
    
    

India’s First Overseas Defence Manufacturing Facility (GS3 – Defence/Economy, FFP)

• Context & Launch:
  
  
  • Inaugurated in September 2025 at Berrechid, Morocco, by India’s Defence Minister and his Moroccan counterpart.
    
  • Facility belongs to Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL), a Tata Group company, in partnership with DRDO.
    
    
• Key Features:
  
  
  • Kingdom of Morocco’s largest defence manufacturing facility and the first by an Indian private firm in Africa/MENA region.
    
  • Will produce the indigenous Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP), an 8×8 modular armoured vehicle, with variants for infantry, command, recon, and ambulance use.
    
  • Supports Morocco’s army with advanced, Indian-designed combat vehicles; initial deliveries start Oct 2025.
    
    
• Strategic Significance:
  
  
  • Positions India as a global defence exporter—facility regarded as an export hub for North Africa and Europe.
    
  • Realises Aatmanirbhar Bharat (“Make in India, Make for the World”) for advanced defence tech.
    
  • Generates local employment, supplier ecosystem, and strengthens India–Morocco bilateral ties in security and technology.
    
    
• UPSC Relevance:
  
  
  • Example for answers on defence diplomacy, South-South cooperation, and private sector’s global role in Atmanirbhar Bharat.